www.Muggaccinos.com   The Bullsheet

Sunday, 31 Aug, 8:15am from St Ives “Ferry from Palm Beach to Ettalong, Gosford Iron Horse to Brooklyn” - 101km - ETR 3:30pm

  •    No trackwork on Wyong/Gosford/Hornsby train line

  •       Ride Leader:  Phil Johnston - 9498.3684 hm

  •       Cycle two abreast on single lane roads at own risk

  •       Road section between Ettalong and Gosford is generally busy, so ride in single file only, and keep well to LHS  

Snapshot:
8:15am rollout St Ives car park Mona Vale Rd [opposite Pattisons Patisserie and Stanley St].  L at Mona Vale Fruit Barn twds McCarrs Creek Rd, past Church Point twds Mona Vale. L into Darley St and L into Barrenjoey Rd past Bungan Beach, thru Newport, Bilgola, Avalon and R into Whale Beach Rd for 5km along coast line to Palm Beach Wharf to catch 10:30am ferry 1st Nosh Stop (30 min) to Ettalong Beach.  
Cycle 26km along Maitland Bay Drive, Empire Bay Drive to Gosford station for 2nd Nosh Stop / lunch at Gosford prior to (24 min) Iron Horse ride to Hawkesbury River station.
7.5km along Brooklyn Rd and up Old Pacific H'way to Pie in the Sky for 3rd Nosh Stop  (15 min).   
18km South down Old Pacific H'way to Hornsby and 8.7km NE to St Ives.  ETR St Ives 3:30pm.

SagStops:
1st     Mona Vale Fruit Barn                         8:30am   (3 min)
2nd   Church Point                                          9:05am   (5 min)
3rd    100m along Darley St                           9:25am   (3 min)
Nosh Stops
1st     Ferry ride                                            10:30am (30 min) 
2nd   Train ride                                             12:16pm (24 min) 
3rd    Pie in the Sky                                        1:05pm (15 min)

1st Leg:  St Ives to Palm Beach - 39km - 110 min

8:15am cycle -

  • E along Mona Vale Rd for 6.6km;

  • L [opposite Forest Way - at Mona Vale Fruit Barn] into Myoora Rd and take a 1st Sag Stop (3 min) - don't cluster at Sag Stop, rather spread thin to get well to LHS of Myoora Rd;

  • Ahead along Myoora Rd for 200m, and fork right, still Myoora Rd for 2.9km

  • R into Booralie Rd for 300m passing Terrey Hills shops and roundabout;

  • L to McCarrs Creek Rd and descend 2.2km into the park - to the V (dual entrances to the park);

  • R fork and pedal 2.8km descending McCarrs Creek Rd to McCarrs Creek bridge;

  • Ahead 5.5km along McCarrs Creek Rd to Church Point [20km] at 9:05am 2nd Sag Stop (5 min) - Be ready to roll out promptly;

  • East twds Mona Vale for 3˝km - road becomes Pittwater Rd past Cabbage Tree Rd (on RHS) to Darley St - 500m short of Mona Vale shops;

  • L into Darley St and pull-up 40m along 3rd Sag Stop (3 min) - Darley St is 700m (24.8km);

  • L into busy Barrenjoey Rd for 7.7km of glorious views of the Blue Pacific past Bungan Beach thru Newport, Bilgola, Avalon to Whale Beach Rd - 150m past North Avalon Rd [9:30am];

  • SignPost  R into Whale Beach Rd and ascend/descend for 6km passing Whale Beach cafe and continuing along the coastal road to Palm Beach and continue around to the Wharf on the bay side arriving at 10:05am to purchase some grits and embark 10:30am ferry to Ettalong Beach for 1st Nosh Stop (30 min) [39km].

2nd Leg:  Ettalong Beach to Gosford station - 26km - 
keep well to LHS and ride in single file only - (agg 65km) - 75 min

11:00am -

  • Ahead along Ferry Rd for 100m;

  • R into Booker Bay Rd for 20m;

  • L into Murray St for 550m;

  • L into Flathead Rd for 500m;

  • R into Picnic Pde for 100m;

  • R into Maitland Bay Drive/Daley Ave  initially crossing "The Rip Bridge" for 2km;

  • Ahead along Empire Bay Drive thru Bensville for 8km;

  • L into Avoca Drive for 5km with Green Point on RHS;

  • L heading West into The Entrance Rd/George St/York St for 3Ľkm;

  • Veer R into Masons Pde for 150m;

  • Ahead into Main St for 1km to Gosford station for 1:16pm (hourly service) Iron Horse for 2nd Nosh Stop (24 min) arriving at Hawkesbury River station at 1:40pm.  Alternatively, catch 12:55pm or 1:55pm "41 min Express train" to Hornsby arriving 1:36pm or 2:36pm.

3rd Leg:  Brooklyn to Pie in the Sky - 7.5km (agg 73km) - 25 min

1:40pm alight train at Hawkesbury River station -

  • 3.6km West along Brooklyn Rd; and 

  • 3.9km climb Nth for 3rd Nosh Stop (15 min) at Pie in the Sky from 2:05pm..

4th Leg:  Pie in the Sky, via Hornsby 'n Turra to St Ives - 27.65km (agg 100.65km) - 65 min

2:20pm pedal:

  • Sth down Old Pacific H'way for 18km passing station on LHS and crossing bridge over Hornsby rail line;

  • L into Leonard St for 150m veering L passing back over railway line and continuing S/E along Alexandria Pde/Millewa Ave for 2.8km [rail line on RHS];

  • L into Bangalla St for 800m;

  • R into Eastern Rd for 500m;

  • L into Brentwood Ave/Boomerang St for 1 km

  • Ahead into Pentecost Ave for 1.9km;

  • L into Mona Vale Rd for 1.5km to St Ives car park - ETR 3:30pm.

Scribe's scrimpish rap-up of last Sunday, 24 Aug, Tour de Windy Windsor - 7 cyclists

Teller fielded a few calls on Sat night from crew who wouldn't be riding Sunday, incl Craig from the Central Coast who reported it was 'pissing down'.  Low and behold, the rain moved out to sea o'nite pushed away be a howling Westerly.

Sunday morn' evidenced 7 solitary Muggs hammering into a full-on head-wind.  Our 'quid pro quo'  was enjoyed on the way back when the wind had marginally picked-up.  Man, it was fun flying back along the M2 with a screaming tailwind.  Alas, that  10o gradient over the final 250m up thelast section of Kissing Point Rd hadn't been flattened by the wind, so it still hurt.

The Scribe     24 June '03